DragonFly

Dragonflies are ancient insects, have been around since 300 million years ago.

Like insects in general, the body of the dragonfly / dragonfly (Libellula depressa) consists of three parts: the head with large eyes, chest / thorax with four long wings can not be folded equipped with three pairs of legs, and stomach / abdomen with 10 segments. Dragonflies live close to the water because of the cycle of life that makes them can not live away from the water. Dragonfly life cycle, from egg to death as an adult, varying between six months and five years.

Adult dragonfly mating process can take hours and can be done in a state of flight.

Prior to spawning, the parent will look for dragonflies waters free of pollution and

water plants are equipped to shelter their children later. Presence of aquatic plants also promises there are many other water microorganisms that can live there as a potential food source dragonfly larvae. After finding an appropriate habitat, dragonflies parent will lay eggs on the surface of the water. Parent dragonflies can lay eggs up to 100,000 grains.

This dragonfly eggs covered with a slippery mucus if held. Dragonfly eggs will hatch into larvae after two days to one week. In colder climates, dragonfly eggs take longer to hatch.

After hatching, the larvae of dragonflies live and thrive in the bottom waters. Larvae / grubs dragonfly is also known by the name of present-day breathing in the water by using internal gills. Although a water creature in this phase, dragonfly larvae can still live when transferred on land for hours. During this phase, dragonfly larvae will often molt to become nymphs metamorphosed.

Most of the life cycle is spent in the form of a dragonfly nymph (can be up to 4 years old). Dragonfly nymph is agile with his swimming skills, life as ferocious predators of water. Large dragonfly nymphs can even hunt and prey on tadpoles and juvenile fish. If the prey is rare, not shy dragonfly nymph eating others (cannibals). Just like when a larvae, dragonfly nymphs molt still frequently (up to 12 times).

Once fully grown, the right weather, the nymph will come out of the water to look for plants or rocks to finish metamorphosis into adult dragonflies. Nymphs will slough off old skin and turn into young dragonflies. Nymph skin is left is called the exuvia. Including dragonfly metamorphosis incomplete metamorphosis because not passing through pupa / chrysalis.

As adults, dragonflies usually can live for two months. If lucky, the adult dragonfly can live up to four months. Dragonfly adults, although not as fierce as a nymph, still a predator for smaller insects like mosquitoes. However, at this stage, more mature dragonflies often fall prey to. The main enemy in the wild dragonflies are: birds, chameleons, praying mantis (mantis), and newts.

Role / Benefits Dragonflies

• As a hunter plant pests, such as moths and walang rice pest

• As a bioindicator clean water, because dragonfly nymphs will not be able to live in polluted water and water that is not its growth.

• dragonfly nymphs eat mosquitoes that can transmit dangerous diseases like malaria and dengue fever.